In an unusual step, the Pike and Wayne Democratic Committees have issued a joint statement criticizing state Rep. Jeff Olsommer for misleading voters about his positions on reproductive rights and marriage equality. 

“It is the height of hypocrisy for Jeff Olsommer to assert in a September 24 Facebook post that he supports ‘women making decisions about their own body’(1) when he actually supports politicians making those decisions,” said Lisa Miller, the Pike County Democratic Committee chair. “That’s why the rabidly anti-choice PA Pro-Life Federation has endorsed him.” (2) 

The PA Pro-Life Federation, which opposes all abortion from the point of conception (3), advocates for an amendment to the PA constitution to explicitly prohibit any right to abortion in Pennsylvania (4), with no exceptions for rape, incest or the life of the mother. 

If the Republicans gain one more seat in the state legislature, they will control both legislative chambers and can pass the amendment. At the League of Women Voters debate with his opponent, Democratic nominee Robin Skibber, the moderator asked Olsommer, “How would you vote on a state ban on abortion?” He responded: “I really can’t comment on how I would vote on a bill like that.” (5) 

On the issue of marriage equality, last July 2, Olsommer voted against House Bill 2269 (6) to protect same-sex marriages in Pennsylvania. “Olsommer says he ‘is in agreement with laws already on the books,’ but there is no law in Pennsylvania protecting marriage equality,” said Wayne County Democratic Committee chair Ann Monaghan. 

“If the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Obergefell v. Hodges, just as they overturned Roe v. Wade, every same-sex marriage in Pennsylvania is in jeopardy,” she added. 

According to the U.S. Census, Pike and Wayne counties have one of the highest concentrations of same-sex households of any region in the state. (7) 

Robin Skibber, the Democratic candidate opposing Olsommer, is a women’s health and marriage equality advocate. She has been endorsed by Planned Parenthood, Delaware Valley Action and the Zimmermann-Peirce LGBTQ Democratic Club. 

“Anyone who thinks Jeff Olsommer supports reproductive rights or marriage equality is living in a fantasy world. His endorsements and votes tell the real story,” said Milford mayor Sean Strub. 

(1) Olsommer for 139 Facebook page at www.bit.ly/3UfAGbm, September 24 post 

(2) www.jeffolsommer139th.com/#Endorsements 

(3) www.paprolife.org/about/ 

(4)www.ballotpedia.org/Pennsylvania_No_State_Constitutional_Right_to_Abortion_Amendment_(2024)  

(5) BRC13 video of the League of Women Voters debate, www.youtube.com/watch?v=9oisPj8cADk, at 41:30  

(6) www.bit.ly/40bNV0y  

(7) www.williamsinstitute.law.ucla.edu/visualization/lgbt-stats/?topic=SS#density